How do people fail at this?

[glazier]

for what it's worth, I trade just as badly in demo as with a live account.
I've never had a really successful demo period (in 10+ years of trading) where I thought the markets were easy, but then, i've always traded demo accounts with hard stops and never average in etc.
But even with demo, most trades hit my stop before hitting my target

 

[themickey]

for what it's worth, I trade just as badly in demo as with a live account.
I've never had a really successful demo period (in 10+ years of trading) where I thought the markets were easy, but then, i've always traded demo accounts with hard stops and never average in etc.
But even with demo, most trades hit my stop before hitting my target

Why not start a Journal where you are honest about your failings and asking for assistance.
You need to start it off giving a good description of what and how you currently trade.
There are plenty of very helpful posters on ET toward those with a good honest attitude.

 

[icegeek]

They dive into the market without any strategy. to succeed you have to make sure you know what you're getting into.

 

[iLikeMoney]

Defo need a strategy, defo needs to be a profitable strategy. If it's none of these you will lose

 

[newwurldmn]

To each their own. I treat trading as a business. Only.

Good for you! Do you want a cookie?

 

[Masil]

I have a buddy with a live futures account, and has been on demo mode for about 5 years. I think in that time he has taken 6 trades total, all intraday, not swings or long-term. Almost every month he is "trying out" some new indicator, tool, signal service, or whatever.

This is a prime example of too much demo mode actually causing mental issues, well beyond the necessity of understanding how your platform works, and the particulars of the instruments one wishes to trade. At this point, I suggest his demo mode instilled habits and the psychological issues it has caused, are irreversible, or at best, have zero impact for creating a long-term successful trading income should he ever begin pulling the trigger for real.

I think all of these is based on the approach and and how long we demo trade. We should know the difference and learn to accept it.

 

[Masil]

I will never forget what a friend told me from the onset; he said: "Hey man remember to start small and don't rush or be too hasty". Those words have guided me over the years.

Those are the words that define the market, you have to be discipline and focused, especially when making big decisions.

 

[Esha.J]

Good saying, Always expect and earn less in starting career of trading, that way you will learn that how to manage risk.

 

[SunTrader]

Good for you! Do you want a cookie?

Yes please. Make that two.

Do you want a clue?

 

[newwurldmn]

Yes please. Make that two.

Do you want a clue?

Who killed Mr Body in the dining room with the candlestick?